Internet sleuths find suspected Filipino Capitol Hill rioter on Facebook

Well, well. Look who we found on Facebook.

You may have already heard about the Capitol Hill rioter who went viral yesterday for holding a walis tambo (Philippine-made broom) while storming the iconic Washington D.C. landmark. He has attracted a lot of curious Pinoys since his photo was taken by Saul Loeb of AFP, who covered the failed insurgency of outgoing American President Donald Trump’s supporters.

Surreal photo by AFP’s Saul Loeb. Now, who else would bring a walis tambo and wear an upside down flag to a riot? pic.twitter.com/q2xvSuC2eY

— nonoy espina (@EspinaNonoy) January 7, 2021

Filipinos have an inkling that the rioter is a compatriot, because who else will buy a walis tambo but another Pinoy? This suspicion was validated by journalist Jonathan de Santos, who found the broom-holding Trump supporter on Facebook last night. De Santos said that the insurrectionist is “apparently from Ilocos Sur.”

“I think it really is him,” the editor added.

Walis Man was pretty easy to find on Facebook and is apparently from Ilocos Sur. pic.twitter.com/RyyKkEA21u

— Jonathan de Santos (@desamting) January 7, 2021

I think it really is him, pero malay ba natin sa Facebook world pic.twitter.com/ADkOSDVGK1

— Jonathan de Santos (@desamting) January 7, 2021

Coconuts Manila did our own sleuthing and found that the man, who uses the name “Fam Council,” wrote that indeed, he hails from Ilocos Sur, in the town of Tagudin. He even posted a selfie of himself inside Capitol Hill, as well as the home-made shield he brought with him, which has the words “Coup Flu Fighter” written on top of it.

In addition, he posted several videos of the mob as they take over Capitol Hill.

Another indication that this Trump supporter is Filipino is that someone called him “manong” when he posted on his wall that he was “inside Congress.” Manong is the Ilocano word for “older brother.”

But perhaps the most damning evidence that he is Filipino is his photo of a crispy-looking lechon being roasted on a fire pit. Lechon plus walis tambo— looks like a true-blue Pinoy, don’t you think?

As of this afternoon, Fam Council’s Facebook has already been deactivated.

Filipino Ambassador to the United States  Jose Manuel Romualdez reported that there were some Pinoys who joined the riot at Capitol Hill yesterday, which was organized to block the proclamation of Joseph Biden as the new U.S. President.

Biden won 81.3 million votes or 51.3% of all votes cast. He defeated Trump by more than 7 million votes. In the electoral college, the former vice president won 306 votes while Trump ended up with 232.